New York City voters say 92 - 6 percent, including 91 - 8 percent among public school parents,
that school officials should have the power to fire any school employee convicted of improperly
touching a student, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Support is over 90
percent among almost every group.

School officials should have the power to immediately remove from student contact any
employee accused of touching a student, voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-
ack) University poll 82 - 14 percent. Again, there is strong support from all groups.

New York City voters have a 44 - 25 percent favorable opinion of public school teachers,
including 50 - 24 percent among parents of public school students.

"When it comes to protecting their kids, New Yorkers want quick and simple solutions: If
a school worker is accused of touching a student in the wrong way, get that worker away from
kids. If a school worker is convicted of touching a student, give him or her the ax. Forget the
arbitration and the rubber room; get the offender out the door," said Maurice Carroll, director of
the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Stop and frisk is a very divisive issue between black and white voters, but a bare
majority disapproves."

New York City voters approve 61 - 26 percent of the job Police Commissioner Ray
Kelly is doing, compared to 66 - 23 percent May 10.

Voters approve 59 - 32 percent of the job New York City police are doing, compared to
63 - 31 percent last month.

Possession of small amounts of marijuana in public view should be decriminalized,
voters say 59 - 36 percent. White voters, 66 - 30 percent, are stronger in support of
decriminalization than black voters, 58 - 35 percent, or Hispanic voters, split at 50 - 48 percent.

"Dropping those minor arrests for pot possession is a good idea, voters think," Carroll
said. "Overall, voters still think the police, and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, are doing a
good job."

New York City voters are divided on whether they want an Atlantic City type casino in
the city, with 46 percent in favor and 43 percent opposed. Men support the idea 54 - 37 percent
while women are opposed 48 - 38 percent. Black voters support it 56 - 28 percent while white
voters split 46 - 46 percent and Hispanic voters split 42 - 42 percent.

Among those who want a New York City casino:

24 percent say put it in Manhattan;

24 percent pick Queens;

16 percent say go to Brooklyn;

13 percent want it in Staten Island;

11 percent say The Bronx is the place.

New York City voters support a "Living Wage" bill 76 - 18 percent, including 56 - 39
percent among Republicans. Support is stronger among all other groups.

Voters reject 50 - 42 percent the argument that a "Living Wage" bill will cause local
businesses to reduce the number of people they hire.

"New Yorkers are lukewarm, at best, about building a big casino in the city," Carroll
said. "Some are against casinos and some are against a casino here."

From June 6 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,093 New York City voters with a
margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow
us on Twitter.

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner?

13. As you may know, the New York City Council passed a bill for a so called "living wage". Under the bill, large businesses that benefit from taxpayer subsidies would be required to pay employees at least $10 an hour with benefits, or $11.50 an hour without benefits. Do you think the living wage is a good idea or a bad idea?

TREND: As you may know, the New York City Council passed a bill for a so called "living wage". Under the bill, large businesses that benefit from taxpayer subsidies would be required to pay employees at least $10 an hour with benefits, or $11.50 an hour without benefits. Do you think the living wage is a good idea or a bad idea? (* "As you may know, there is a proposal in the New York City Council")

18. As you may know, there is a police practice known as stop and frisk, where police stop and question a person they suspect of wrongdoing and, if necessary, search that person. Do you approve or disapprove of this police practice?

TREND: As you may know, there is a police practice known as stop and frisk, where police stop and question a person they suspect of wrongdoing and, if necessary, search that person. Do you approve or disapprove of this police practice?

Jun 14 Mar 13
2012 2012
Approve 43 46
Disapprove 51 49
DK/NA 6 5

19. Do you think the possession of small amounts of marijuana in public view should be decriminalized in New York state, or don't you think so?

21. If a school employee is accused of improperly touching a student, do you think New York City school officials should have the power to immediately remove that employee from contact with any student or don't you think they should be able to do that?